What To Expect When You’re Expecting
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What to Expect When You’re Expecting by Heidi Murkoff & Sharon Mazel
Scariest. Book. Ever. 🤰😱
I’ve come to a conclusion: nobody actually wants to be pregnant. People want children, but pregnancy itself? That’s a whole different story. Honestly, why would anyone willingly go through this?!
Men: You are not worthy of the woman carrying your child. 🙇♂️
Now, let’s talk about the book. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH. While it’s undeniably packed with information, it’s not the best source for actual advice. This book has been widely criticized over the years for pushing recommendations that aren’t always grounded in solid medical research, especially when it comes to Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAM). It’s currently in its 5th edition after nearly 30 years, but many of those revisions are mostly surface-level: rewording certain phrases or adding FAQs. The core medical science? Barely touched.
But the real reason this book is so terrifying? It gives you way too much to worry about. There’s simply no way a normal human could follow all its suggested precautions. It’ll leave you convinced you’re a terrible parent before you’ve even become one. Dread, anxiety, paranoia, it plants them all like seeds in your already-overloaded brain.
And don’t get me started on the dietary recommendations. They’re downright demoralizing. Reading them feels less like nutritional guidance and more like a reminder that you’re a walking, talking junk food disaster. But guess what? You’re pregnant. You’ve earned the right to eat what you want and enjoy every glorious bite. 🍔🍕🌮🍗🥞
Lastly, you’re going to feel ugly. The skincare advice in this book is so detailed it’ll make you question how your partner ever found you attractive in the first place. But don’t let it get to you. Whether or not the book says it, “pregnancy glow” is real. Just remember, you’re sexy and you know it.
Despite the overwhelm, there are some fascinating insights in here. Two that really stuck with me:
“Pregnancy brain” is real. It’s not just a joke; women actually lose brain cells during pregnancy. 🧠
Your immune system weakens for a reason. I already knew pregnancy suppresses the immune system, but I didn’t realize it’s to prevent the body from attacking the fetus. In rare cases, the body can literally view the baby as a foreign invader. 🦠
Bottom line: This book is informative, yes, but also overwhelming, anxiety-inducing, and occasionally outdated. Read it with caution. And most importantly: give yourself some grace.
